Master ‘Turn up’ to Boost Your IELTS Speaking Score

What is ‘Turn up’ and Why It Matters in IELTS

The phrasal verb ‘turn up’ is a versatile expression that can significantly enhance your IELTS Speaking performance. Understanding its various meanings and applications can help you express yourself more naturally and precisely during the exam.

Definition and Explanation

‘Turn up’ has several meanings depending on the context:

1. To arrive or appear unexpectedly
2. To increase the volume or intensity of something
3. To be found or discovered after being lost

Synonyms include ‘appear’, ‘show up’, ‘increase’, or ‘discover’, depending on the specific usage.

Usage in Context

Here are some examples demonstrating the different uses of ‘turn up’:

• “I was surprised when my old friend turned up at the party.”
• “Could you please turn up the volume? I can’t hear the TV.”
• “The missing document finally turned up in a drawer.”

Various contexts of 'Turn up' phrasal verb

Grammar Analysis

‘Turn up’ is a separable phrasal verb, meaning that in some cases, you can place the object between ‘turn’ and ‘up’:

• “Turn up the music.” OR “Turn the music up.”

However, when using pronouns, you must separate the verb:

• “Turn it up.” (Not “Turn up it.”)

Application in IELTS

Speaking

In IELTS Speaking, ‘turn up’ can be used to describe various situations:

• Part 1 (Introduction and Interview):
  Q: “Do you enjoy going to parties?”
  A: “Yes, I do. I love the excitement of not knowing who might turn up and the chance to meet new people.”

• Part 2 (Individual Long Turn):
  When describing an unexpected event: “I was waiting for my friend at the café when suddenly my favorite celebrity turned up! It was such a surprise.”

• Part 3 (Two-way Discussion):
  Q: “How do you think technology has changed the way people socialize?”
  A: “Well, with social media, it’s become much easier to organize events. People can turn up to gatherings they might not have known about in the past.”

Writing

In IELTS Writing, ‘turn up’ can add variety to your vocabulary:

• Task 1: “The graph shows that student attendance turned up significantly after the new policy was implemented.”
• Task 2: “Despite the challenges, more volunteers turned up to help than expected, demonstrating the community’s strong spirit.”

Remember to use this phrasal verb judiciously in formal writing, as it may be considered too casual in some contexts.

Related Phrasal Verbs

1. Show up /ʃoʊ ʌp/ – To arrive or appear
   Example: “He finally showed up an hour late to the meeting.”

2. Pop up /pɒp ʌp/ – To appear suddenly or unexpectedly
   Example: “A new coffee shop popped up in our neighborhood last week.”

3. Crop up /krɒp ʌp/ – To appear or occur unexpectedly
   Example: “Several issues cropped up during the project implementation.”

4. Come up /kʌm ʌp/ – To arise or be mentioned
   Example: “That topic came up in our discussion yesterday.”

5. Turn down /tɜːn daʊn/ – To reduce or reject (opposite of ‘turn up’)
   Example: “Can you turn down the music? It’s too loud.”

6. Show off /ʃoʊ ɒf/ – To display in a proud or boastful manner
   Example: “He likes to show off his new car to everyone.”

7. Set up /set ʌp/ – To establish or arrange
   Example: “We need to set up a meeting with the client next week.”

Infographic of related phrasal verbs

Practice Exercises

Fill in the Blanks

1. The volume was too low, so I asked my friend to __ __ the TV.
2. We were worried when John didn’t __ __ for the meeting.
3. Unexpected problems often __ __ during big projects.
4. I hope a solution will __ __ soon for this issue.
5. Please __ __ the heat; it’s freezing in here.
6. The lost cat finally __ __ after a week of searching.
7. Don’t __ __ your new phone; it’s impolite.
8. We need to __ __ a new system for managing inventory.
9. The manager asked us to __ __ early for the training session.
10. If any questions __ __, feel free to ask the presenter.

Sentence Transformation

1. Original: The missing keys were found in the kitchen drawer.
   Rewrite: The missing keys __ __ in the kitchen drawer.

2. Original: Please increase the volume of the radio.
   Rewrite: Please __ __ the radio.

3. Original: Surprisingly, my old classmate arrived at the reunion.
   Rewrite: Surprisingly, my old classmate __ __ at the reunion.

4. Original: The charity event attracted more volunteers than expected.
   Rewrite: More volunteers __ __ for the charity event than expected.

5. Original: Several complications arose during the surgery.
   Rewrite: Several complications __ __ during the surgery.

6. Original: Can you reduce the brightness of your screen?
   Rewrite: Can you __ __ the brightness of your screen?

7. Original: He likes to brag about his achievements.
   Rewrite: He likes to __ __ his achievements.

8. Original: We need to establish a new protocol for emergencies.
   Rewrite: We need to __ __ a new protocol for emergencies.

9. Original: The topic of climate change was mentioned in the meeting.
   Rewrite: The topic of climate change __ __ in the meeting.

10. Original: A new café suddenly appeared in our neighborhood.
    Rewrite: A new café suddenly __ __ in our neighborhood.

Answers and Explanations

Fill in the Blanks:

1. turn up
2. turn up
3. crop up
4. come up
5. turn up
6. turned up
7. show off
8. set up
9. turn up
10. come up

Sentence Transformation:

1. turned up
2. turn up
3. turned up
4. turned up
5. cropped up
6. turn down
7. show off
8. set up
9. came up
10. popped up

Explanations:

1. ‘Turn up’ means to be found or discovered.
2. ‘Turn up’ is used to increase volume.
3. ‘Turn up’ means to arrive or appear unexpectedly.
4. ‘Turn up’ is used to describe people appearing or arriving.
5. ‘Crop up’ means to appear or occur unexpectedly.
6. ‘Turn down’ is the opposite of ‘turn up’, meaning to decrease.
7. ‘Show off’ means to display in a boastful manner.
8. ‘Set up’ means to establish or arrange.
9. ‘Come up’ means to arise or be mentioned.
10. ‘Pop up’ means to appear suddenly or unexpectedly.

Memory Tips

To remember ‘turn up’ and its various meanings, try these memory aids:

1. Visualize a volume knob turning upwards to increase sound.
2. Picture someone unexpectedly appearing by “turning up” from below the ground.
3. Imagine lost items “turning up” when you lift objects to look under them.

These visual associations can help cement the different uses of ‘turn up’ in your memory.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

1. Confusing ‘turn up’ with ‘turn on’:
   Incorrect: “Can you turn up the lights?”
   Correct: “Can you turn on the lights?” or “Can you turn up the brightness?”

2. Using ‘turn up’ in formal writing inappropriately:
   Instead of “The results turned up positive,” in a formal report, use “The results were positive.”

3. Forgetting to separate the verb with pronouns:
   Incorrect: “Turn up it.”
   Correct: “Turn it up.”

4. Overusing ‘turn up’ in speaking tasks:
   While it’s good to use phrasal verbs, variety is key. Mix ‘turn up’ with other expressions to demonstrate a wide vocabulary range.

5. Misusing ‘turn up’ in idiomatic expressions:
   Be cautious with idiomatic uses like “turn up trumps” or “turn up one’s nose,” as these have specific meanings and contexts.

Conclusion

Mastering ‘turn up’ and related phrasal verbs can significantly enhance your IELTS performance. Practice using these expressions in various contexts to make them a natural part of your English vocabulary. Remember, the key to success in IELTS is not just knowing the words, but using them appropriately and confidently in your speaking and writing tasks.

For more tips on improving your IELTS skills, check out our guide on how to support local businesses during economic downturns, which provides excellent practice for using phrasal verbs in context. Additionally, our article on describing a person who has helped you in difficult times offers great examples of how to incorporate phrasal verbs into personal narratives, a crucial skill for the IELTS Speaking test.

Keep practicing, and you’ll see your confidence and fluency turn up in no time!